Visiting the UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico

After saying a sad farewell to Big Bend National Park, we continued our journey into the heart of the Southwest.

We need to be at Saguaro National Park/Tucson area by the middle of February to meet up with a couple friends, but we’re aiming to fit in as much as we can in southern New Mexico before then.

Being married to someone slightly obsessed with aliens and outer space meant visiting Roswell was of utmost importance.

The Roswell UFO Incident

The small town of Roswell, NM has exploded into fame over the last few decades as people have grown fascinated by the story of an alien crash landing — and the subsequent suspected government cover-up. Movies, books, and TV shows have consistently found popularity among us Earthlings, as we find entertainment through the thought of life elsewhere in the universe.

So what happened here?

Sometime during the first week of July in 1947, clusters of metal debris were discovered by a rancher on his property just a little northwest of Roswell after a severe thunderstorm.

Military personnel were sent over to investigate from the nearby base. Findings were then flown to Washington D.C.

A press release was issued on July 8th, stating that fragments of a flying saucer was now in possession of the government. The next day, another press release was issued declaring that these fragments were, in fact, pieces from a crashed weather balloon.

The quick change of information leads many to be skeptical of the government’s honesty. Eyewitness reports of alien bodies being removed from the site also emerge.

So was it a UFO? Or weather balloon? Were people paid off to cover up the real story? Were there really alien bodies discovered at the site?

The debate continues.

The International UFO Museum & Research Center

The International UFO Museum & Research Center opened to the public in the fall of 1992. According to the City of Roswell’s website, the museum’s goal is “to educate, not convince, the general public about what has come to be known as the ‘Roswell Incident’ and all aspects of UFO phenomena”.

Inside, you’ll find a lot of information. You’ll learn about the key people involved in the incident, and can read multiple actual court documents from those affected in the aftermath.

Interactive touch screens and a video viewing room are also part of the museum, although those were both closed off during our visit due to coronavirus precautions.

A portion is dedicated to Roswell’s Hollywood presence, and also to other supernatural stories that have made their way to the silver screen.

There’s info on UFO sightings from all over the world, and one part of this exhibit that stood out to me was the section on Lord Pakal — ruler of the Mayan people in the 600s. The museum actually has a large replica of his sarcophagus cover which is believed to show a relationship with extraterrestrials.

You can also view outer space-themed artwork, take your picture with alien figurines, and learn the differences between first, second, and third encounters.

Comic strips even have their place in the museum, adding some humor to an otherwise contemplative experience.

If you’re an alien buff, a stop at the UFO Museum is a no-brainer. But it’s also a great place to learn more about the Roswell incident, as well as UFOs in general.

Overall, it was a fun, inexpensive way to spend an hour, and it lead me to the departing thought of,

“I wonder if the aliens have a museum on us?”

Whoa, dude.

Originally published at https://jetlaggedjill.com on February 5, 2021.

For tips on visiting the UFO Museum and Roswell in general, check out: https://jetlaggedjill.com/visiting-the-ufo-museum-in-roswell-new-mexico/